Revision 2

Overview

On April 9, 2026, roughly two months after Starsand Island's February 11 Early Access launch, the game's Steam store page was temporarily removed from sale. On April 10, Seed Sparkle Lab posted an "Important Announcement: Game Content Adjustment" to the official @IslandStarsand account explaining that a planning-phase oversight had resulted in the use of core visual elements from another title without proper authorization within one of the game's mini-games. The studio apologized, removed the affected content from a corrected build, resubmitted that build to Valve for re-review, preserved all player save data, and promised a free Shining Star Outfit Set to all players as compensation.

The delisting applied to the Steam storefront only. Existing Steam owners kept their installed copies and could continue to play offline until the updated build arrived. The Xbox Series X|S release on the Microsoft Store, including Xbox Game Pass, stayed live throughout the review period. Patch 0.4.8191 shipped to Xbox on April 16 while the Steam build was still pending Valve's approval.

Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Game Removed for Copyright Infringement?

The official announcement described the issue as use of "core visual elements from a classic title" within the game's mini-game section "without proper authorization" due to a planning-phase oversight. The statement did not name the affected mini-game, the classic title, or the specific rights holder, and did not characterize the removal as a formal copyright action.

Which Mini-Game Was Affected?

Seed Sparkle Lab did not identify the mini-game in the public statement. The affected content was described only as being located within the game's mini-game section. Community speculation focused on the

In-game, the arcade hub is the Chrono Arcade run by Loren, which contains two minigames: Starblock (a block-stacking puzzle game) and Foodybara (a capybara snake-style game). The arcade was the most likely candidate area based on descriptions of the affected content. See the Chrono Arcade and Arcade Tokens and Games articles for details on the arcade's systems; both pages will be updated once the corrected arcade content ships publicly.

Will My Save Be Lost?

No. The April 10 announcement explicitly stated that all previous progress is preserved. Saves remain tied to the player account and carry over to the updated build; players only need to install the update once it arrives on their platform.

Do I Still Own the Game on Steam?

Yes. The store page was pulled, but existing owners kept their licenses and their installed copies. The game remained playable offline on Steam through the review period. Once the corrected build goes live, Steam owners receive the update automatically on next launch like any other patch.

Can I Still Buy the Game on Xbox?

Yes. The Xbox Series X|S listing on the Microsoft Store, including Xbox Game Pass, was never pulled. The delisting applied only to the Steam storefront. Patch 0.4.8191 shipped to Xbox on April 16 during the Steam review period.

When Will the Game Be Back on Steam?

Seed Sparkle Lab did not commit to a specific relisting date. The corrected build was submitted on the same day as the announcement, and the return depends on Valve's re-review timeline. No extended delay has been signalled publicly.

How Do I Claim the Shining Star Outfit Set?

Distribution is automatic. No code redemption is required. Update to the latest patch on your platform, load into the game, and claim the set from the Self-Service Terminal inside the Community Center in Starsand Town. See the Shining Star Outfit Set article for full claim details.

Does This Affect the Dating System or the April Roadmap?

Yes. The Dating System drop originally slated for April 2026 slipped as the April cycle was absorbed by the Content Adjustment response and patch 0.4.8191. The Post-Launch Roadmap article tracks updated status as the feature moves toward a later release window. May (mod support) and June (multiplayer) roadmap targets have not been officially revised.

Steam Relisting (Approximately April 24, 2026)

Around April 24, 2026, the corrected Starsand Island build cleared Valve's re-review and the Steam store page returned to sale. The relisting came roughly two weeks after the April 9 removal and the April 10 Content Adjustment Announcement, matching the pace players estimated when the corrected build was first submitted on April 10.

Patch 0.4.9467 (April 23) was applied to the relisted build, so new Steam buyers and existing owners on next launch downloaded both the corrected mini-game content and the new Affection Discount system and Snail Pump item at the same time. The Xbox Series X|S build received the same patch on the same day, putting both platforms back on a unified content version after the brief Steam-only divergence.

Saves carried over to the relisted build with no player action required, as the original announcement promised. The free Shining Star Outfit Set compensation continued to distribute through the Self-Service Terminal in the Community Center for any player who had not yet claimed it.

Updated Timeline Entries

The Xbox Game Pass version remained live throughout, so players on that platform never lost access. The episode marked the studio's first major external disruption to its post-launch roadmap and contributed to the slippage of the originally planned April Dating System milestone, which is now in active development without a revised public ship date.

Related Articles

• Shining Star Outfit Set

• Update History

• Post-Launch Roadmap

• Development History

• Chrono Arcade

• Arcade Tokens and Games

• Dating System

• Early Access Review